CAROLE SYLVAN

Currently one of the most recognizable voices in house music, singer/songwriter Carole Sylvan remains an enigma. Her rich vocals have graced tracks produced by such house music staples as Danny Tenaglia and Mood II Swing and Byron Stingly, for whom she performed back-up. Not one to limit herself to a single genre, she has also provided vocals with R&B artists as diverse as Melba Moore, James Ingram and Candi Staton. While she adds a richness to the music created by these artists, she truly shines when she steps to the fore and commands a song in her own right. Earlier this year she received major kudos for her Studio 32/Louis Radio-produced release "I Can't Stand The Night" and gave promise of more to come. She has recorded numerous tracks for such imprints as Nervous, King Street and the legendary Tribal America. Her work on Kult Records has garnered her much praise in the dance music industry. At the label, she is given free reign to let her vocals soar to the greatest heights. Listening to such cuts as "I Can't Stand The Night" and "Closer," it is evident that Ms. Sylvan truly has a place in the upper echelons of dance music's soulful divas. Carole Sylvan was born to sing. From the age of eight, she was belting out stirring gospel-tinged hymns before an appreciative congregation at her church. While still at school, she sung at elegant tea parties held at the home of jazz icon, Count Basie. With performing credentials that belied her years, she knew what she was meant to do and set about sealing her destiny. After a lengthy stint singing as a soloist in her church choir, Ms. Sylvan decided to study voice seriously. She was sponsored by the Pied Piper Foundation, which supported prodigious musical talents. The association with the philanthropic institution lead to her first major performance before an enthusiastic crowd of funk fans opening for the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown. Ms. Sylvan was barely 16 years old and already she knew how to command an audience with her sublime vocal stylings. In her quest to be an all-round entertainer, she also took acting classes under the tutelage of Lou Myers. Her hard work and dedication paid off when she was the recipient of the Ed Sullivan Talent of the Year Award, which further fueled her dream to sing professionally. With a versatile, four octave range, Ms. Sylvan nursed ambitions of being an opera singer. She attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, where she majored in voice and later participated in the Julliard Preparatory program. Though she never realized her dream of being a professional opera singer, she instead found herself in demand as a vocalist for pop artists looking for talented session vocalists. With her unsurpassable skills and breath-taking range, she soon built up a list of satisfied clients, who relied on her talent, creative input and professionalism in the studio. She sang on tracks for the Pet Shop Boys and Danny Tenaglia on his 'Heart & Soul' release. On completion of the project, Tenaglia acknowledged her talents and noted that it was a pleasure working with the amiable singer. As a solo artist, Ms. Sylvan has worked with many key industry players, including Kerri Chandler and Louis Vega. While she has been featured artist for production teams, she points out that she is not merely a vessel for them to channel their words and music through, this multi-talented diva is also a prolific tunesmith. She has a vast repertoire of songs that range from garage to straight up pop. She has also contributed lyrics to two Fatback Band albums, "Gigolo" and "Money." In addition to fulfilling lead and background vocals on the single "Everything You Do," the New York-based performer also wrote lyrics for this sonic tour de force. However, her ultimate goal is to eventually produce in her own right. She has tried her hand at production in the past and would like to further extend that aspect of her talents. With her growing body of work, immense talent and passion for her music, Carol Sylvan will soon cease to be one of dance music's great enigmas, and take her rightful place where she belongs — up front and center.